Saurashtra U-23 captain Riddhi Ruparel who is a self-confessed fan of Bangladesh wicketkeeper-batsman Mushfiqur Rahim has finally met her idol before the second T20I between India and Bangladesh in Rajkot. Mushfiqur scored an unbeaten 60 and took his side to the finish line in their first-ever T20I win over India.

“I have been following him for two years. Last time I went to Bangladesh, I wanted to meet him and Shakib Al Hasan but they were in some of the tournaments so I wasn’t able to meet them. I represented Kalabagan (Krira Chakra) in Bangladesh’s league,” Riddhi Ruparel was quoted as saying by Bangladesh’s leading daily The Daily Star.

“I idolise him because I am a wicketkeeper and a top-order batsman so the way he played in the last game made me feel like I could also play like that. Initially, he took time but suddenly he changed the game. Even after the catch was dropped, he was positive in his approach. He said ‘I will make my team win’. I idolise him and also want to play like him,” said the U-23 captain. “I think he is the smallest in international cricket and I am the smallest in domestic cricket. Height doesn’t matter because even short players can make the team win.”

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Alongside Mushfiqur, the youngster picked MS Dhoni as her other favourite but also added that her game is similar to Mushfiqur that’s why she idolises him.

“I idolise him and also Indian cricketers like (MS) Dhoni, but their game is totally different (to mine), so I idolise Mushfiqur because he has a similar game to mine. Initially, he takes his time in batting but then he plays so well later on. I feel I should also play like him,” she concluded.

Mushfiqur Rahim who is in Rajkot for the second T20I against India has met Riddhi and wished her for her future as well.

(With IANS inputs)